As I peruse through bridal magazines -- okay maybe I mean flip through at amazing speed, but anyway, the periodical is open and I'm half-awake -- there are lots of articles on prenuptial agreements.

I know everyone says that legally these make a lot of sense, but I can't help see it as hammering out the divorce agreement because you're only expecting to be married for 5-10 years.

Anyway, with the thought of divorce looming large in my wedding plans . . . I know, my mother shakes her head too . . . I hopped online to check out premartial counseling.

If you're getting married, it's definitely worth checking into. While many religious leaders offer premartial counseling, psychologists do as well. It's not a requirement that you be having problems with your partner to go; in fact, the whole point of counseling is not to have problems.

We've all heard the statistic that one in four couples gets a divorce. But your chances of staying married jump by 30 percent if you get premarital counseling. Moreover, some say that couples have from a year before the wedding to a six months after the wedding to attend counseling and create a happier marriage. Beyond that, patterns are set, and you're trying to fix what's already broken.

A good counselor, religious or otherwise, should help you explore your feelings about major issues, such as finances, raising children and elder care, and provide conflict resolution tips to help you get your marriage off on the right foot.

After all, planning a wedding is a huge investment. Hopefully, you'll only have to do it once.